by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 142 U.S. colleges awarded 6,659 degrees and certificates in Software Engineering. Bachelor’s degrees are the most popular award, at 50% of graduates. College Factual ranks 84 schools in its 2027 Best Software Engineering Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $83,126 one year after completing, rising to $115,160 after four years.
A major in Software Engineering covers Computer Software Engineering. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Apply Scientific And Mathematical Principles To The Design, Analysis, Verification, Validation, Implementation, And Maintenance Of Computer Software Systems Using A Variety Of Computer Languages. Includes Instruction In Discrete Mathematics, Probability And Statistics, Computer Science, Managerial Science, And Applications To Complex Computer Systems.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Across the country, software engineering is a widely-pursued major, with 6,659 degrees awarded annually. 142 colleges award software engineering degrees, an average of 47 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 1,246.
By level, the 6,659 awards include 90 certificates, 235 associate degrees, 3,337 bachelor’s degrees, 2,962 master’s degrees and 35 doctorates.
Women earned 26% of software engineering degrees and certificates in the latest year (1,747 of 6,659). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (2,153) and Hispanic or Latino (658), and international students earned 2,384.
College Factual ranks 84 schools in its 2027 Best Software Engineering Schools ranking, including 6 for associate degrees, 66 for bachelor’s degrees, 40 for master’s degrees and 5 for doctorates. It also ranks software engineering schools within 25 states. In all, 142 colleges offer software engineering programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Software Engineering Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common software engineering credential is the bachelor’s degree: 3,337 of the 6,659 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to software engineering call most for Reading Comprehension, Speaking and Critical Thinking, and for knowledge of Engineering and Technology, Computers and Electronics and Mathematics, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Expression, Written Comprehension and Oral Comprehension.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long a software engineering degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 90 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 235 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 3,337 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 2,962 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 35 |
Bachelor’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to software engineering, at 32.7%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 32.7% |
| Doctoral degree | 28.4% |
| Master’s degree | 10.9% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 9.1% |
| Post-doctoral training | 8.5% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 4.0% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 2.4% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 1.2% |
| Some college courses | 1.1% |
| First professional degree | 0.8% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 0.8% |
Source: O*NET Online.
7 occupations are related to Software Engineering, with an average median salary of $98,977; the strongest outlook belongs to Software Developers, at 13.5% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Electrical Engineering Teacher, Machine Design Teacher, Radio Engineering Teacher and Electrical Engineering Lecturer.
The occupation related to software engineering with the most projected jobs is Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary, at 1,297,204.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,297,204 | -2.0% |
| Biofuels/Biodiesel Technology and Product Development Managers | 440,884 | 8.0% |
| Database Architects | 335,771 | 4.3% |
| Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers | 273,210 | -1.7% |
| Architectural and Engineering Managers | 207,139 | 9.0% |
| Software Developers | 145,079 | 13.5% |
| Data Warehousing Specialists | 113,258 | 3.9% |
Software Engineering graduates earn a median $83,126 one year after completing their program, $115,160 after four years and $111,175 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $83,126 |
| 4 years | $115,160 |
| 5 years | $111,175 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The highest-paying occupation related to software engineering is Database Architects, with a median salary of $148,480.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Database Architects | $148,480 |
| Data Warehousing Specialists | $117,424 |
| Architectural and Engineering Managers | $101,277 |
| Biofuels/Biodiesel Technology and Product Development Managers | $89,263 |
| Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers | $80,062 |
| Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary | $79,889 |
| Software Developers | $76,447 |
Software Engineering has 3 similar majors in the Engineering field, which together award 14,676 degrees a year; the largest are Computer Engineering, General (13,987), Computer Engineering, Other (568) and Computer Hardware Engineering (121). Browse all Engineering majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Computer Engineering, General | 13,987 |
| Computer Engineering, Other | 568 |
| Computer Hardware Engineering | 121 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
